Today, we bring you the story of Seema Khandale, founder of the NGO – Ashay Social Group. She cares for the environment and strives to protect it by making people aware of their threats to nature and encourages everyone to use eco-friendly alternatives where possible.
“We all moan and groan about the loss of quality of life through the destruction of our ecology. Yet each one of us, in our comfortable little ways, contributes daily to that destruction. It’s time now to awaken in each one of us the respect and attention our beloved mother deserves.”
These words by Ed Asner indeed portray the reality of the present times. Since the rise in knowledge about science and advances in technology, our lives gradually started becoming more and more comfortable. Human lives have become fast-paced since the inception of the industrial revolution. In this process, we started exploiting natural resources. Deforestation, large-scale mining, and setting up hazardous chemical factories are many reasons we face the global warming crisis presently.
In addition to this, we humans have been threatening the ecology because we are increasingly failing to manage the waste we generate. What if we start from our side to minimize the amount of damage we could cause to the environment? We can learn how we are unknowingly harming nature, and we can find alternatives wherever possible. At least a small change would happen for sure, and its range would widen as we share our knowledge with others.
Seema Khandale – My Story
I have been ardently fond of mother nature since my childhood. Growing up, I decided to start an NGO. The very question that first confronted me was about what mission shall I choose. In my observation, there were plenty of organizations working for the sake of senior citizens, women, and children.
Therefore, I wanted to focus on other factors that needed attention, and I took a different path and decided that caring for the environment would be my mission. My academics were a huge plus point for this motto, as I had pursued a bachelor’s in Botany. The journey of the Ashay Social group had finally begun!
Starting something new and unique is indeed a significant challenge. When Ashay Social Group was being sketched on papers, I was determined to care for the environment and highlight and bring awareness of how people possessed a threat to the environment. I wanted to let people know about the eco-friendly alternatives that one can choose to mitigate the threats to the environment.
At that time, one-time-use plastic was indeed very troublesome. Thinking about that, we came up with the first project of our organization. It was about educating people on avoiding the usage of plastic carry bags and using cloth bags instead. It is a project based on 3R – Recycle, Reduce, Reuse. We ask for old used sarees, dupattas, blouse pieces, make cloth bags from them and distribute them among the people. Till now, around 30,000 have been distributed. I believe in gifting, and this is one of my ways to return something to our society.
Three people have greatly inspired and influenced me and my work. My Mom has been my greatest inspiration. Secondly, Shaila Sawant is my role model. She has always been proudly supported me and my work. The Third is Gauri Dabholkar, who introduced me to the magical concept of the menstrual cup. Above all, I must add my family and a few dear friends, without whom I am incomplete.
Sanitary napkins are products based on plastic and flooded with lots of chemicals that can harm the environment. Plastic takes around 500-1000 years to decompose. Even if we count which we toss napkins in the bin every month and its threat for the environment. Here’s a simple calculation, in a month, 12-15 used sanitary napkins are thrown away. In a year, the count is almost about 150 napkins for one woman. Thus, In the whole life cycle, 40 years, a total of 6000 or more napkins are thrown away by one woman. Now imagine the trash created due to napkins disposed of by millions of menstruating women!
We throw these used napkins in our domestic waste, which creates a significant health risk to the waste collectors. Burning these products also creates toxic fumes of dioxins which are said to be a cause of cancer. All this sanitary waste makes its way into our sewage system, landfills, and water bodies. The government introduced a few rules and regulations to manage this sanitary waste, but how many are implemented is a big question mark. Isn’t that our responsibility to take care of this community or humanity?
And how can we forget that we have only one source to fulfill our basic needs: Our Mother Earth! We have to take care of it!
What exactly is this MENSTRUAL CUP?
A menstrual cup is made up of 100 percent silicone medically graded material. It is non-toxic and non-allergic material. A hygienically safe option. It is worn inside the vagina to collect the menstrual fluid at the time of periods. Technique to wear and remove the cup is a straightforward process, with no pain. Practice makes us perfect! A menstrual cup is a reusable option, and a woman can use one menstrual cup for 5 to 10 years. In a month, we spend 100 to 150/- Rs on sanitary napkins. In a year it goes around 1500 to 2000 Rs.
If we spend 1000 Rs for a menstrual cup, it becomes a beneficial option if we think about its long-term usage. No trash is created when we use the menstrual cup. Very little water is required to wash the menstrual cup, so we save water too. It becomes an eco-friendly option too. Taking care of a cup is also easy. Tap water or hot water is sufficient to clean the menstrual cup. No soap or detergent is required for washing. Sterilizing the cup in boiling water for 5 minutes is okay before and after the periods.
One day, in March 2016, I read a news article explaining something innovative, as a cup that one can use at one’s periods. I was utterly shocked to know about such a mysterious product. Reading about it led to curiosity, but I found the product retailed online only. I was searching for something which I could have in my hand and then finalize to use it or not. After two months of research, I purchased my first-ever menstrual cup. That month I eagerly awaited my periods. June 2016, I celebrated my No-rash, No-stains, and No-trash periods. Since then, there has been no looking back towards the Disposable Sanitary napkins.
Sanitary napkins or tampons are the most accessible options at the market, which is one-time use and throw option. I learned about this product and started to use it. Being a comfortable consumer of this innovative product, I started thinking about why this product is not so popular? Everyone around here is using sanitary napkins or tampons.
And since then, I have taken a step ahead and started sharing my experience with the menstrual cup. I started sharing about this with my friends and almost everyone else around me! I bought a few cups and started gaining more knowledge about menstrual cups.
I realized that high pricing and not knowing the proper use technique were a few issues to start this new concept. I started spreading awareness about this, and at one point in time, I got the opportunity to design a cup and give it a name as RUTU menstrual cup.
Before 2015, when I used to stand and share my identity, I used to say, I’m Mrs. Khandale and Mom of two sons. But after being the Founder of Ashay Social Group and working for the Care of Environment, I wasn’t restricted anymore to the brief introduction. Menstrual cup gave me significant identities as CUP WOMAN, CUP QUEEN, SOCIAL ACTIVIST, along with lots of blessings from Happy Cup Users, many friends. My work got recognition not only from India but also internationally. And also, the Happy faces of my two handsome children, who are very proud of their Mom.
Some of my achievements are:
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- 2018 – Honoured as “BaiManoos for the Facebook Live” by Lokmat on International Women’s Day.
- 2018 – Honoured by Lokmat as Social Entrepreneur Awards for her social work.
- In Dec 2018, she was honored by the “BahinaBai Award” for working for Women’s Health, by Gurunath Foundation, Muktainagar, in Guidance of Shri Eknathrao Khadse Sir and RakshaTai Khasde in Bhusawal.
- “Tarunai Award” from Jantaraja Pratishthan, Pune.
- Honored by REA Foundation, Panvel, for working on Social cause.
- Speaker at TedxKharghar and TedxTaraBaiPark Kolhapur.
- March 2020 Dhasu Womania, from India Top 30 Awardee, from 1000 nominations, By Safejob, Delhi.
- March 2020, best five from Maharastra, selected by Fandry Foundation.
- Guruvarya Samman 2021, by HETS, Bangalore.
- Recently honored as Working Women Achiever Awards, 2021, by Ooruni Foundation, Chennai, for being the one among 50 Women Achievers.
- Winners from Maharashtra, for Asia’s 1000 Women Awards by Womennovator.
- Super Women-Role Models, Super Women Awards 2021, Inspiring Women-Esteemed, by Dr.Neeraja Reddy, Hyderabad
The smile of the comfortable consumer of these sustainable menstruation options, their infinite blessings, and the pride and belief my children have for me is the most significant achievements I have got.
Initially, in this endeavor, I faced some challenges. Firstly, making sure that my message reaches people and explaining more about this topic was a challenge. Back then, asking them to give me a platform to speak up was a big task, but slowly, the scenario began to change when they understood the clear picture of my work. Nowadays, not only do people invite me, but they also ask for my appointment.
Adding to the concept of the menstrual cup, I promoted the concept of “MAKE OUR CLOTH PADS” to the users who can’t afford these costly options online. I help them to make it for themselves with the material that they can have with them. Many schools, colleges, NGO groups have helped me to conduct such workshops.
I’m located in Mumbai, but I try to manage traveling or request volunteers to visit their place to teach about this and spread awareness. I’m ready to guide and answer their queries all the time. Cloth pads are the best sustainable menstruation options next to the menstrual cups. As we daily wash our clothes and reuse them by properly cleaning and drying them, we can take care of our cloth pads. One can use a set of 4-5 cloth pads for 3-4 years.
Since the beginning of the Ashay Social group, my motive has been to care for the environment in any possible way. I am also determined to keep working for this mission in the future. The environmental conditions are such that one needs to realize how they knowingly or unknowingly damage the environment. Also, encouraging them to use alternatives so that our environment is safe is a part of my goal.
As responsible citizens of this globe, every one of us should try to avoid using single-use plastic products or other products that may turn harmful to nature. Instead, we can use reusable and sustainable products. Also, we should recycle the unusable stuff wherever possible. It is how we can save our Mother Earth and for the betterment of the upcoming generations as we have only one Mother Earth that nurtures us and fulfills all our basic needs. So, let’s take responsibility and protect it together.
Also, I would like to say that try giving back to society in any way comfortable for you, whenever possible. Giving is Caring, and Caring means Loving. Keep doing random acts of kindness which will bring a smile to the face of others. And believe me, this smile will give you super duper satisfaction in your life!
Besides the mission of protecting the environment, I love making new friends. Some of my hobbies are gardening, reading, and singing. One of the most important things for me is to always stay connected with my near dear ones.
This pandemic was indeed a calamity that was called upon this world. But in this period, I got sight of what’s truly important in our life. I realized that it is great to enjoy our life in ways we can instead of grumbling over the circumstances. Also, appreciating everything good that we have is very important. It encouraged me to be happy by living in the present moment. Finally, it made me a stronger person to face all the challenges given by life.
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